Baffert receives temporary race ban from Belmont Park
Bob Baffert was suspended Monday from entering horses at New York racetracks, pending an investigation into Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s failed postrace drug test.
Baffert will temporarily not be allowed to stable any horses at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course or run any of his horses at the New York Racing Association’s tracks. That ban includes races at Belmont Park, with the Belmont Stakes coming up June 5.
“In order to maintain a successful thoroughbred racing industry in New York, NYRA must protect the integrity of the sport for our fans, the betting public and racing participants,” NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said. “That responsibility demands the action taken today in the best interests of thoroughbred racing.”
Baffert had not committed to entering any horses in the third leg of the Triple Crown but had many in consideration for other races on Belmont Stakes day.
NYRA officials say they took into account Baffert’s previous penalties in Kentucky, California and Arkansas, along with the current situation with Medina Spirit, and expects to make a final determination about the length and terms of the suspension based in information revealed by Kentucky’s ongoing investigation.
Baffert’s attorney, Craig Robertson, said in an email to The Associated Press that he is reviewing NYRA’s decision and will discuss the situation and legal options with his client before their camp makes any formal statement.
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in postrace testing and faces disqualification unless a second test comes back negative. Baffert on May 9 said 21 picograms of the corticosteroid, which can be used to help a horse’s joints, showed up in the blood sample.
Baffert a day later said an ointment used to treat Medina Spirit for a skin condition daily up until the Derby included the substance. Even a trace amount of betamethasone in a horse’s system is not allowed on race day in Kentucky, Maryland and New York.
NFL
BRADY FAMILY NEEDS HOUSING >> Tom Brady’s tenancy in Tampa is ongoing, but the seven-time Super Bowl winner needs a new place to rest his head at night.
Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter sold the mansion Brady and his family rented for the past year. Tampa.
com reported Jeter sold the sevenbedroom waterfront estate for well under asking price at $22.5 million. The property was listed for $29 million.
Jeter moved out of the home in 2017 when he was hired as CEO of the Miami Marlins. Brady and his wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, moved into Jeter’s massive property in April 2020.
The power couple recently purchased land near Miami and intend to build a new home, but will be in the market for something closer to Brady’s workplace for at least the next year.
Brady is entering the second year of a two-year contract with the Buccaneers. He led Tampa to the Super Bowl in his first season with the franchise.
BRONCOS MAKE KLEINE HIGHESTRANKING FEMALE SCOUTING EXEC IN NFL >> The Denver Broncos have hired former Vikings scouting executive Kelly Kleine as executive director of football operations and special adviser to the general manager.
That makes Kleine the highestranking woman in football operations at an NFL club. Additionally, she’s believed to be the highestranking female scouting executive in league history.
Kleine, who worked with Broncos first-year general manager George Paton for nine years in Minnesota, will have scouting duties and manage several departments, the team said. KERRIGAN, WASHINGTON STAR DEFENSIVE END, JOINS EAGLES >> The Philadelphia Eagles and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Ryan Kerrigan have agreed on a one-year contract.
The 32-year-old Kerrigan played 10 seasons in Washington and is the franchise’s all-time leader with 95 1/2 sacks.
Tennis
SERENA STEAMROLLS 17-YEAR-OLD >> Serena Williams earned her first victory in more than three months by beating 17-year-old qualifier Lisa Pigato 6-3, 6-2 Monday in the first round of the Emilia-Romagna Open in Parma, Italy.
Williams, who accepted a wildcard invitation for the Parma tournament after losing her opening match at the Italian Open last week, dominated after dropping her serve in the opening game.
Williams hadn’t won since beating Simona Halep in the Australian Open quarterfinals in February. She was eliminated from the year’s first Grand Slam tournament by Naomi Osaka in the semifinals.
Williams will next face 68thranked Katerina Siniakova, who eliminated Danish teenager Clara Tauson 6-1, 6-3.
Also, former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens beat Catherine McNally 7-6 (4), 6-4 and Anna Karolina Schmiedlova rallied past Venus Williams 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Olympics SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BIKER LANDS AN OLYMPIC BERTH >>
Santa Cruz mountain biker Haley Batten has burst onto the world stage in the past week to qualify for the Summer Olympics.
Batten’s debut in mountain biking’s elite World Cup racing has propelled her to join fellow Bay Area rider Kate Courtney of Kentfield on the U.S. team headed to Tokyo. Batten, 22, finished second on Sunday in a World Cup in the Czech Republic a week after a third-place finish at a World Cup in Albstadt, Germany.
Batten automatically qualified for the U.S. Olympic team after being the only American to finish in the top eight in the Nové Mesto cross-country race on Sunday. She also won a short-track race in Nove Mesto on Friday on a muddy course.
Batten, a Park City, Utah, native, lived in Los Gatos before moving to Santa Cruz.
Boxing ARBITRATOR RULES FURY MUST FACE WILDER, JEOPARDIZING JOSHUA FIGHTREPORTS >>
A big money heavyweight fight between British champion Tyson Fury and compatriot Anthony Joshua was thrown into doubt on Monday after an American arbitrator ordered Fury to face American Deontay Wilder, according to media reports. The highly anticipated third bout between Fury and Wilder was pushed back last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ruling jeopardizes a longawaited title showdown between Fury and Joshua, the world’s top two heavyweights, which was announced last week.